COLOMBIAN RICE CRACKLE 



FIG. 104. AmUycercus holosericeus centralis 



(Nat. Size) 



A bird of entirely black plumage, usually 

 found in pairs in the spring months in the dry 

 brush and low jungle; often seen in the thickets 

 along the roadsides. The mystery of harsh and 

 liquid notes, the latter similar to those of the 

 large oropendulas, issuing from some thicket, 

 will often be solved by finding a pair of these 

 birds skulking in it. I once heard the female 

 give harsh double notes in response to the 

 whistle of the male. 



7. Cassidix oryzivora mexicana (Lesson) 

 Colombian Rice Grackle 



Cassidix oryzivora violea RIDGWAY, Birds of N. and M. 

 Amer., II, 1902, p. 197; STONE, Proc. Phila. Acad. Nat. 

 Sci., 1918, p. 280. 



Length. Male. 343 mm. (13.45 in.); tail 

 145 mm. (5.70 in.). Female. 293 mm. (11.50 

 in.); tail 119 mm. (4.60 in.). 



Male. Plumage black glossed with violet. 

 Side of neck ruffed. Bill stout and conical, 

 429 



